Climate Change News
Practical News for Planet Savers
Site last updated 18th Jun 2008With soooooo much in the news these days, I have started using my blog pages to do a round up of the days' news. I'll keep this section going for practical stuff...
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Cars that can help the National Grid
Electric and hybrid cars could act as energy stores for the power grid while not being driven. since the car is driven, on average, for an hour a day, the rest of the time it could be used to store electricity. If thousands were plugged in, it could make a difference to power distribution.
Source: New Scientist 4th December 2007
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Zero-Emission Home
The UK is set to unveil the first zero-emission house that will set the environmental standard for all new homes in future.
Source: BBC - 11th June 2007
All clear for Nuclear?
Whilst there are those pushing nuclear as a green option, there is another side. Just how much water does a power station need to keep its cool?
Source: Herald Tribune - 20th May 2007
Got Mushroom for Insulation?
Well, now you can:>) Student inventor, Eben Brayer, has come up with an environmentally friendly organic insulation.
Source Science Daily: 7th May 2007
A Good Recycling Story
I always excited to read about somebody making something useful from waste: Railway sleepers made from waste plastic, including recycled bumper scrap and old computer cases could be putting in an appearance on UK railway tracks soon.
Source: Science Daily - 7th May 2007
Cheaper Solar Cell Breakthrough
Scientists in UNSW, Australia have found a way of making solar energy more affordable by boosting efficiency of solar cell technology. The advance could see the price of an installed solar system for an average house fall by up to 25 percent.
Source: Science Daily - 2nd May 2007
Power Station Harnesses Sun's Rays
Forty stories high and surrounded by huge mirrors, Seville now has a power station which harnesses the sun's rays.
Source BBC: 2nd May 2007
Building to combat Climate Change
Energy efficient buildings can make a significant impact on global warming. "The right mix of appropriate government regulation, greater use of energy saving technologies and behavioural change can substantially reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the building sector which accounts for 30-40 % of global energy use," says UNEP report.
Source: Science Daily - 17th April 2007
Organic Light and No Wasted Energy
Researchers in Finland have developed an organic LED which wastes no electricity. Source: Science Daily - 17th April 2007
Laundry Lines
Great story from California about the joys of the washing line. Save energy with a line instead of a dryer. 12th April 2007
Fight global warming with a clothesline
Waste - NOT!
The UK is likely to adopt pay-by-weight rubbish disposal - following European example. Source BBC 10th April 2007
Tips on disposal of household rubbish.
Plastic You CAN Throw Overboard
In order to keep the seas clear, ships have to store vast quantities of unwanted plastic packaging until in port. This causes major problems for sea creatures such as turtles. Now all this is set to change with a plastic that can degrade in seawater in as little as 20 days.
Full story in Science Daily 28th March 2007
Fleecing Green
Simon Lee, the entrepreneur behind the new fleece!
Green fleeces in M&S 1st March 2007
Greener Channel Crossing
Let the train take the strain. Eurostar have commissioned research which shows how the Train is greener than the 'Plane.
Greener than flying 22nd February 2007
An Inconvenient Truth
Al Gore's new film about climate crisis. The web site has a free download of background information. Now available on DVD.
Click the image to order from Amazon
Mobile Phones
They may be one of our smaller electronic possessions, but the environmental issues surrounding them are proving to be a sizeable challenge.
Source: BBC 1st December 2006
Additional reading: Science Daily: Cell Phones Qualify as Hazardous Waste 17th April 2007